Power press



Patented July 3l, 1923.

FREDERICK H. RAGAN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

POWER PRESS.

Application filed August 12, 1921. Serial No. 491,703.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, FREDERICK H. HAGAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of fayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Power Fresses, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a power press suitable for light or heavy press work, the pressure applied being controlled entirely by the operator through simple, efficient mechanism. rl`he construction and arrangement are such that the press is flexible as to power, from a few pounds tomany tons, the pressure exerted depending upon and be1ng in direct relation to the pressure apphed by the operator on an actuating lever such `as a foot pedal. Moreover the ram is provided with a considerable stroke whereby a wide range of movement is provided for push broaching, pressing in bushings, assembling gears to shafts and so forth. Moreover the ram is operated by direct worm drive from the pulley and the usual operating connec tions such as rack and pinion or spur or beveled gears are dispensed with. Other novel and advantageous features of construction and operation will be apparent fromthe description hereinafter given.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is an elevation of a press embodying my invention; Fig. 2 a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 a sectional plan view on the line 3-3 i of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 a cross section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 a detail section of the upper end of the ram and'column.

Referring to the particular embodiment of my invention as herein shown, the press frame comprises the usual base 1, a. vertical column 2, supporting bracket 3 for the usual fast and loose pulleys 4, a vertically adjustable table 5, a horizontal drive shaft 6 and operating connections between this shaft and the ram 7. These operatingconnections together with the particular construction of ram constitutes the subject matter of this invention.

The drive shaft extends into and is journaled in a casing 8 which extends from one side of the axis of the ram. This shaft is provided at a point within this casing with a worm 9 meshing with a worm gear 10 whose extended hub 11 is mounted concentric of the ram 7. This'hub is secured to diametrically opposite vertical spline keys 12 which are received in the vertical or longitudinal key-ways 13 in the ram which key-ways extend not only through the lower smooth portion of the ram but also through the screw threaded portion thereof. The hub 11 has its bearing within the bushing 15 which is located in the vertical bearing 16 of the casing structure 17 0f which the casing 8 is a part. rlhis casing structure iswpreferably made in two parts which are held together by the bolts 18.

The ramextends upwardly through the vertical cylinder 19 and is connected at its upper end to a cable 20 which runs over a pulley 21 and is provided at its lower end with a counterweight 22 whereby the ram may be returned automatically and rapidly to normal position when permitted to do so by the position of the operating connections and at the will of the operator.

At the lower end of the cylinder 19 which is here a part of the column 2 there is arranged a nut 23 which is here in the form of a pulley provided with a rim 24. This nut has a central threaded bore which screws upon the screw portion 14 of the ram. This nut is interposed between the lower end of the cylinder 19 and the upper end of the bearing 16 of the casing structure 17 and because of the vertical thrust and anti-friction bearing 25 is provided between this nut and the lower end of the cylinder-19 as shown in Fig. 2.

The nut 23 and its rim 24 constitute the control member of the press and cause the longitudinal movement of the ram, when such member is held stationarily by Suitable means under the control of the operator. These means in the present instance consist of a band brake 26 cooperating with the periphery of the rim and adapted to be actuated by the operators foot through a pedal 27 and connections between it and the band. This band .is preferably vasbestos lined and is of the anchored pull-end type whereby when the pedal is operated the band is tightened frictionally on the rim.` As shown in Fig. 3, one end of the band 26 is anchored to the pin 28 in the main frame and the other end is connected to a head 29 adjustably secured as by screw threading to a rod 30. This rod works throughl and is guided b v an opening 31 in the frame and is connected to thevertical arm of a bell crank 32 whose horizontal arm is connected by a vertical rod 33 with the pedal 27 intermediate the length thereof, as shown in Fig. l.

As shown in Fig. the cable 20, is connected with the ram through a swivel connection, including a yoke 3d,- cross pin 35 to which the cable is attached, ball bearings 36 surrounding the projecting stem 37 of the ram and interposed between the bottom ol the yoke and a nut 38 screwing, on the outer end or" said stem. This yoke is held stationarily but permitted of a longitudinal movement by means ot the projection in the form of a screw 39 secured to one side of the yoke and adapted to travel in an interior slot Ll() in the column 19. This column is closed by a top cap t1 which constitutes a safety stop to prevent over-travel ot the ram. The cable passes through an opening 42 in this cap which isv removably secured to the top of the column in a suitable manner. as by the set screws t3.

Describing the operation the ram is rotated at a constant speed in one direction by the worm drive and splines above described. The control member which includes the nut 23 and rim 2d revolves with the ram until pressure is applied by the operator to the foot pedal whereupon the brake band 26 is tightened on to the rim of the control member and the latter is thereby held stationary. As a result the ram will be advanced or moved longitudinally, that is, ted downwardly toward the table 5 in the present instance. This longitudinal movement continues until the pressure on the toot pedal is released at which ytime the counterweight 22 returns the ram quickly to its up or normal position, the nut or control member rotating so as to permit the ram to move longitudinally upwardly, that is, to feed through the nut. V

The above described press is extremely flexible as to the power applied at the will of the operator, such power or pressure varying from a few pounds to many tons, depending entirely upon and beine in direct relation to the pressure ap lied by the operator on the foot pedal. Moreover the ram stops whenever the pressure'on the pedal is released or whenever the pressure on the work balances in direct relation to the ressure applied on the pedal by the brake and which is capable of slipping to taire care ot abnormal load, t-hus preventing any chance of breakage. @wing to the fac-t that the length of stroke and pressure applied is at all times controlled by the operator, this press is particularly adapted tor all lnnds of straightening work. Furthermore, the construction is such that the ram is given a longl and steady stroke and chatter is avoided.

li claim:

l. A power press including a longitudinally movable ram, means for rotating .the ram, and a control member mounted directly on the ram tor rotary movement thereon and neonata thereof, said ram and control member hav- .ing1 cooperating`-parts whereby the ram is moved longitudinally slowly in one direction for feeding purposes and is permitted to moverap-idly in the opposite direction.

2. A power press including a longitudi- 4nally movable ram, means for rotating the ram, and a control member, said member being mounted upon the ram and capable of rotary movement therewith and having means whereby it may be held stationary at the will of the operator, said rain and control member having cooperating' parts whereby thel ram is moved longitudinally slowly in one direction tor feeding purposes when such member is held stationary and is permitted to move rapidly in the opposite direction.

3. A power press including a longitudinally movable ram having a. screw threaded portion and an extended longitudinal keyway, a drive wheel having a key cooperating with said key-way, a. control member threaded upon said screw portion of the ram, and means under the control of the operator for holdingl said member stationary..

t. A power press including a'longitudinally movable ram 'having a screw threaded portion and an extended longitudinal keyway, a drive wheel having a key cooperating with said key-way, a con-trol member threaded upon said screw portion or the ram, and means under the control ol the operator for holding said member stationary, comprising a friction band cooperating with said member.

5., A power press including a longitudinally movable ram having a screw threaded portion and an extended longitudinal keyway, a drive wheel having a. key cooperating l with said key-way, a control member consisting` oil a rim and a nut threaded upon said screw portion ot the ram and a friction band cooperating with the rim to hold control member stationary at the will oit the operator.

6. A power press including a longitudinally movable ram, means for rotating the ram, and a control member, said ram and control member having cooperating` parts whereby the ram is moved longitudinally slowlyVy in one direction tor'eeding purposes and is permitted to move rapidly in the opposite direction, and yielding means tendine to hold the ram in normal position and re- Sistina7 the feeding movement of the ram but yielding for feeding purposes.

7. A power press including a longitudinally movable ram having a screw threaded portion and an extended longitudinal keymaarre control member stationary at the willof the operator, and yielding means tending to hold the ram in normal position and capable of restoring it to such position when said band is released from the rim.

8. A power press including a' frame havin a column, a ram contained within the co umn and extending therebelow, said ram having a screw threaded portion, acontrol member including a nut threaded onto such screw threaded portion and located at the 'lower end of the column and adapted to bear theragainst, a casing on the frame, and a drive wheel therein having spline connection with the ram. i

9. A power press including a frame havin a column, a ram contained within the co umn and extending therebelow, said ram having a screw threaded portion, a .control member including a nut threaded onto such .screw threaded portion and located at the lower end-of the column and adapted to bear. thereagainst, a casing on the frame, a drive wheel therein having a central bore, and a bushin secured in said bore and having an interna spline, said ram having a smooth portion at its outer end and a key-way extending longitudinally throux such smooth portion and such screw threa d portion and engaged by such spline.

10. A power press including a longitudinally movable ram having a screw threaded portion and an extended lon "tudinal keyway, a drive wheel having a ey cooperating with said key-way,'a control member consisting of a nut having a rim and threaded u n said screw portion of the ram, avfrictlon brake band cooperating with the rim to hold the control member stationary, and a foot treadle and connections under the control ofthe operator for operating the band. 11. A. power press including a longitudinally movable ram, means for rotating theI ram, anda control member mounted directly on the ram for rotary .movement thereon vand thereof, said ram and control member having cooperatin parts whereby the ram is moved lon 'tu mally slowly .in Aone direction for ceding dpurposes and is permitted to move. rapi y 1n the op site direction, and means for limit' t ment of the ram in suchlatter 'rectiom 12. A power press including a frame having a column, a ram contained within the column and extending therebelow, said ram having a screw threaded portion, a control member including a nut threaded onto such screw threaded portion and located.v at the lower end of the column, means for rotating the ram, and means for limiting the return movement of the ram. l f

13. A-power press including a frame have move- -lower end of the column, means for rotating the ram, and a cap on the top of the column to limit the returnmovement of the ram.

`Ml. A ower press including a frame havlumn, a ram contained within the ing a co l co umn and extending therebelow, said ram having a screw threaded portion, a control member including a nut threaded onto such screw threaded portion and located at 'the lower end of the column, means for rotating the ram, a counterweight,'a cable thereon,

and 'a swivel connection between the cable and the ram.

15. A- ower press including a frame hav-z inga co umn, a ram contained within the column and extending therebelow, said ram having a screw threaded portion, a control member including a nut threaded onto such screw threaded portion and located at the lower end of the column, means for rotating the ram, a counterweight, a cable thereon, and a swivel connection between the cable and the ram, comprisin a yoke to which the cable is attached and w ich is mounted on one end of the ram, a nut on such end o the 'ram and an anti-friction bearing between the nut and the yoke.

16. A wer press including a frame hav'-v in a co umn, a ram contained ,within the co umn and extending therebelow, said vram having a screw threaded ortion, a control member including a nut tliireaded onto such screw threaded portion and located atthe lower end of the column, means for rotating the ram, a counterweight, a cable thereon, and a swivel connection between the cable and the ram, comprisin a yoke to which the cable is attached and w ich is mounted freey on the one end of the ram, and means for .preventing rotation of the yoke.

, 17. A i wer press including a frame havin a co umn, 4a ram contained within the co umn and extending therebelow, said ram esA havingv a screw threaded ortion, a control f FREDERICK n. nadar, l

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